“Half of Plenty”: 67% Bittersweet – UPDATED

Half of Plenty Photo by John Flynn

SWEET
These are the Tindall’s, and these are the Zook’s. Confused? You won’t be when you find out the main reason for seeing this comedic gem. Mandan, best known for his role as Chester Tate on “Soap,” gives a commanding performance as the befuddled Jack. The actor is fearless here, from every nuanced look to every broad comic action. He envelops the role on a metaphysical level. As far as an evening of compelling theatre goes, Half of Plenty is more than enough.
Mike Buzzelli – EyeSpyLA

SWEET
Although a feebly bathetic denouement ultimately suggests Dillman is more interested in the exposition of theme over character, Barbara Kallir’s crisp direction of a spot-on cast, aided by the polished support of a fine design team (particularly Stephanie Kerley Schwartz’s trompe l’oeil set paintings), ably fills the gaps with laughs.
Bill Raden – LA Weekly

BITTERSWEET
Bottitta and Zajko efficiently play their characters as written, but therein lies the problem. The resonant reality of this story goes flying out the window when we meet these mustache-twirling louts. The tone of the play goes bonkers every time the neighbors intrude, as we half expect the script to take a detour into Rosemary’s Baby or Stepford Wives territory. At that point, the seriocomic social satire morphs into a dramaturgic muddle, and Half of Plenty becomes a glass half-empty.
Les Spindle – Backstage

BITTERSWEET
The play is well directed by Barbara Kallir who finds whatever humor is in the piece. The actors are all good but the Tindalls do tend to push when things fall apart. Falling apart on stage is difficult and must be accompanied by specifics thoughts and actions or the actors end up playing generalizations. Ms. Palmer needs to be more specific in her actions and Mr. Pollono needs to stop touching his hair all the time. One gesture repeated gets tedious and ends up being distracting and meaning very little. The neighbors are more successful and I particularly like Ron Bottica’s work. His choices were clean, clear, and very funny. Robert Mandan is his usual excellent self. I ended up watching him much of the time because his work was fascinating to watch. This is an interesting piece and the company a welcome addition to the LA theatre scene.
Robert Machray – Stagehappenings

BITTER
Let’s see … Young couple, wacky neighbors, senile parent, absurd situations. Yep, all the ingredients for madcap comedy and Half of Plenty (now playing at Theatre/Theater) has got ‘em all. One thing it forgot: the humor. It answers the age-old question: What would happen if they threw a comedy and no jokes showed up?
Joel Elkins – LA Theatre Review

BITTERSWEET
But as things go increasingly haywire on Stephanie Kerley Schwartz’s shabby living room set, even this fine cast can’t sell Dillman’s unconvincing plot turns. The play’s use of xenophobia as a means to divide Marty and Holly feels like a cheat. Still, as an absurdist view of working America on the edge of a nervous breakdown, “Half of Plenty” is painfully, wryly accurate.
Charlotte Stoudt – LA Times